Internet-based Psychotherapy for Depressed Elderly

NCT04728204 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: iPSYDE_1_2021
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 84
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depressed elderly.

Conditions

Depression

Keywords

Depression; Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy; Elderly; eHealth

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

  Change from baseline in depression symptoms post-treatment (week 8), at three months, at 12 months and at 24 months post-treatment. Measure contains 9 questions that have to be responded to by choosing an answer from a 4-item Likert scale, where number 0 indicates 'Not at all' and 3 - 'Nearly every day'. Higher score indicates more severe symptoms.

  Pre-treatment, week 8, 3, 12 and 24 months post-treatment

• Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)

  Change from baseline in depression symptoms post-treatment (week 8), at three months, at 12 months and at 24 months post-treatment. Measure contains 15 questions that have to be responded 'Yes' or 'No'. Higher score indicates more severe symptoms.

  Pre-treatment, week 8, 3, 12 and 24 months post-treatment

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)

  Pre-treatment, week 8, 3, 12 and 24 months post-treatment

• The World Health Organisation- Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5)

  Pre-treatment, week 8, 3, 12 and 24 months post-treatment

Other Outcomes (1)

• The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

  Pre-treatment

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

8 module, 8 week long internet-based intervention for reducing burden of depression

Behavioral: Depresijos terapija

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants randomized to the control group will be instructed to wait until the intervention group finishes the treatment and that they will be able to use the same intervention afterwards.

Interventions

Depresijos terapija BEHAVIORAL

Intervention is based on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy and culturally adapted to elderly Lithuanian population. The main purpose of the intervention is to reduce the symptoms of depression and increase psychological well-being. Intervention contains psychoeducation, examples, exercises and consultation with a psychologist.

Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• depressive symptoms
• have access to a computer/tablet/smartphone and to the internet
• have good knowledge of the Lithuanian language

You may not qualify if:

• alcohol addiction
• presently in any other psychological treatment
• severe depression
• suicidal ideation
• significant change in psychiatric medication (during last 6 weeks)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Vilnius University: lead
• Linkoeping University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Vilnius University

Vilnius, Lithuania, LT-01513, Lithuania

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Eimontas J, Pakalniskiene V, Biliunaite I, Andersson G. A tailored Internet-delivered modular intervention based on cognitive behavioral therapy for depressed older adults: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2021 Dec 16;22(1):925. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05903-4.

  PMID: 34915909 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Jonas Eimontas, PhD

  Vilnius University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor, Senior Research Fellow

Model Details: Participants will be randomized to either control or intervention group. Participants in the control group will receive the same treatment after the intervention group is finished with the treatment.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 15, 2021
• First Posted: January 28, 2021
• Study Start: January 28, 2021
• Primary Completion: July 15, 2021
• Study Completion: October 6, 2022
• Last Updated: September 26, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

LI (1)